Add content to a dashboard

You can turn an analysis point into a widget on a dashboard without leaving the grid or chart view. You can add to an existing dashboard, a new dashboard or, if you have permission, a shared dashboard.

For example, suppose you are analyzing your Sales database and have created a Pie chart showing the profit of each branch for the year to date.

Open

1. Click the arrow next to the dashboard name and select Add to dashboard > Yes.

   Open

   

2. Select the dashboard to which you want to add the widget or select New to create a new dashboard.

3. Select an existing line or select New to create a new line.

4. Enter a name for the new widget and, if necessary, the new dashboard. A description is optional (it displays at the top of the widget on the dashboard).

5. Specify the limit rows value. This option displays if you have selected a dimension. It filters either the top or bottom records by the specified value. For example, setting Limit Rows to Bottom 10, would only show the bottom 10 records. This action is also known as 'Top/Bottom N Analysis'.

6. Either click Save & Open to view the dashboard or Save.

You can add a widget to a dashboard from scratch.

For example, suppose you want to have a widget that shows the sales revenue earned by each Sales Rep for the year to date.

1. Open the dashboard and click Widget > Query. The widget configuration screen has a database selection on the top right and widget settings on the left (as shown below). The Phocas grid appears inside the screen and operates as usual. 

2. Set up your analysis:

   1. Select the database (Sales). The grid updates to reflect your selection.

   2. Conduct your analysis in the grid: Select the Sales Rep dimension, then select Period > Year to Date, Measure > Revenue and Mode > Total. Sort the Revenue column in descending order.

3. Configure widget settings:

   • Line - Select an existing line or select New to create a new line.

   • Name - Enter a name for the new widget.

   • Description - Enter a description. The description is optional (it displays at the top of the widget on the dashboard).

   • Is Filterable and Link to Dashboard - Use these options to make the dashboard interactive. 

   • Minimized on Open - Select Yes if you want the widget to be minimized when you open a dashboard, so that only its title and description is visible. Otherwise, leave this option set as No.

   • Run As (only users whose profile has Run As permission enabled will see this option) - Select the required user.

     • This option gives the widget the 'view' permissions of a selected user, rather than the user who is actually viewing the dashboard.

     • For example, a manager wants to show a sales performance widget for all branches to staff who normally only see information about their own branch. The manager can select his or her own name from the dropdown to allow users to view the widget exactly as the manager sees it, although they cannot analyze the widget.

   • Limit Rows - Specify the limit rows value. This option displays if you have selected a dimension. It filters either the top or bottom records by the specified value. For example, setting Limit Rows to Bottom 10, would only show the bottom 10 records. This action is also known as 'Top/Bottom N Analysis'.

   • Hide search box - Hide the search box to create more space for rows. This option displays if your widget contains data at a deeper level than Summary view, as it will automatically contain a search box.

4. Click Save.

You can add a list of databases, dashboards, favorites or alerts to a dashboard. These lists can be filtered. You can only add one type of list at a time but you can add as many lists as you want as individual widgets.

1. Open the dashboard and click Widget > List.

2. Select the type of list you want to display on the dashboard.

3. Apply a filter and/or sort, if required. For example, you can filter by when the list contents were last updated and sort by name or when updated. 

4. Select an existing line or select New to create a new line.

5. Enter a description for the list.

6. Click Save.

You can add a text area in which you and other users can add information or comments about the items on the dashboard. It has a simple editor window, in which you can choose from built-in styles, or set your own formatting.

1. Open the dashboard and click Widget > Text.

2. Select an existing line or select New to create a new line.

3. Enter a name and description for the list.

4. Click Save.